Developments in North Africa and Across the Middle East

Published: April 4, 2011

LIBYA At least two of Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi's sons are proposing a resolution to the Libyan conflict that would entail their father relinquishing power for a transition to constitutional democracy under the direction of his son Seif el-Islam el-Qaddafi, according to a diplomat and a Libyan official. It is not clear whether Colonel Qaddafi agrees with the plan, and some observers wonder whether there is a power struggle going on inside the family.

YEMEN The United States, which has tried to keep President Ali Abdullah Saleh of Yemen in power in the face of deadly protests, has quietly shifted positions and is working behind the scenes to remove him, White House and Yemeni officials say.

SYRIA Thousands of Syrians marched Sunday through the shuttered streets of Douma, just outside Damascus, chanting antigovernment slogans as they buried at least eight victims of Friday's protests, according to witnesses and human rights activists. And President Bashar al-Assad appointed Adel Safar, the minister of agriculture for the past eight years, to serve as prime minister.

BAHRAIN The government lifted a ban on the main opposition newspaper, Al-Wasat, after its three top editors resigned Sunday, The Associated Press reported. The state-run Bahrain News Agency accused the paper of ''unethical'' coverage of the uprising against the country's rulers.

OMAN The authorities released 57 demonstrators detained in the last week in an attempt to calm protesters who were pushing for more job opportunities and greater political freedom, The Associated Press reported.